First Day of School and a New Heart

Starting a new school year can be daunting in itself, but starting when your dad is about to get a new heart can be really hard.

This year Blake is in 5th grade and Easton is in 3rd. We went to their classroom open house to meet the teachers, find their desks, and test out their lockers. We took pictures and talked to dad afterwards but it just wasn't the same. Blake said he is 'dad sick', like home sick but just missing dad instead. Mike is an amazing dad and is all in on their lives, events, and school. We can just feel the difference this year.

With all that is going on the boys school has been amazing in helping us and Blake and Easton walk through this journey. The principal, Blake's teacher, Easton's teacher and speech teacher, and the school counslor sat down with me before school started to walk through Mike's heart journey and how the boys are handling it. We are so lucky to have a school with a principal and team that cares so deeply for the well being of our boys and their success in this weird school year.

Happy 1st Day of 5th Grade and 3rd Grade!

On to the main reason we are here...Mike's Heart!

Mike's heart isn't doing so great. The left side is being supported by the Impella Pump and now the right side is going down hill. They are keeping a close eye on his heart and have hinted that by the end of the week beginning of next week he may need an Impella Pump to support the right side of his heart as well. We knew it could always get worse and we are reaching that stage. With both sides of his heart being supported by Impella Pumps that would move Mike up the list to a level 1. It would be amazing if we got a heart before he needed to go into surgery for the right side Impella Pump. The least amount of surgeries and time recovering would be better.

All in all Mike is in good spirits and doing well otherwise. He goes for walks daily and walks on a tredmill for 1 mile each day. His doctors and nurses are pretty impressed with his mobility, strength, and drive to stay well while he waits. He has lost a lot of weight and muscle but is in good shape for a heart transplant and recovery.

The boys have been begging me for weeks now to go to Frosty Boy. We pass it on our way to and from the hospital. We stopped last night and enjoyed some ice cream before school started the next day. Ice cream has a way of pausing the nerves and releasing the anxiety of getting a new heart. A great way to end the summer and relax for just a moment.

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